Collecting MadVideos -- Biking in Madison is great!

David Kroodsma and Bill Bradlee of Ride for Climate USA have already departed for Minnesota and points west. Over the weekend, though, these cross-country bikers on a journey to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy, and "other solutions to global warming" made a stop in Madison. Their here activities included a short bike ride with Mayor Dave, a stop at the Marquette Waterfront Festival, four presentations, and a series of rides around the city's numerous bike paths.

The riders stopped at Café Carpe in Fort Atkinson, where they gave a presentation, before moving on to Madison in the midst of last week's stormy weather. Videos of their travels are available here. Upcoming stops include Minneapolis, Rapid City, Gillette, Bozeman, Missoula, and Seattle before a turn south down the Pacific Coast and a return trip across the southern stretch of the U.S.

"Madison has amazing bicycle routes, which is something to celebrate," notes Kroodsma. "Does your town have great bike routes? If not, why not?"

Ride for Climate USA also produced a short video of their ride with Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, from the City-County Building, around the Square and down State Street. The clip follows this mini-ride to the UW Memorial Union; Kroodsma makes note of the mayor's interest in reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the city. "Most importantly, though," he concludes, "Mayor Dave agreed to have a beer with us on the shores of one of Madison's lakes."